Hazard Out? Predicted Chelsea Starting XI To Face Sunderland
Chelsea entertain Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening looking for a win to take them back to the top of the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho is due to hold his pre-match press conference on Friday when we should get a team news update with the focus being the fitness of key attacker Eden Hazard.
The Belgian international missed last weekend’s 1-0 win away at Swansea after limping out of their Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain four days before with a hamstring problem.
While assistant coach Steve Holland said last week that Hazard is expected back ‘sooner rather than later‘, he’s not likely to be risked from the start against Sunderland this weekend with Mourinho having one eye on Tuesday’s crucial Champions League semi final clash with Atletico Madrid.
Ashley Cole is pushing for a recall but the Portuguese boss is expected to stick with his first-choice back five after seeing the Black Cats dent Man City’s title bid with a shock 2-2 draw at the Etihad on Wednesday night.
Frank Lampard could come into the midfield to give David Luiz a breather ahead of Tuesday, while Oscar and Willian are also likely to be rested meaning Ramires, Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle could all start in attack.
Demba Ba has forced his way into the Chelsea first team after scoring two goals in two games and he could continue up front with Samuel Eto’o possibly being kept in reserve. Here’s the team Mourinho could go with:
What do you think of the team? Share your views below….
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Godspower Oshaka
April 17, 2014 at 8:06 pm
Looki @ wat Sland played against MC it was a very tough & hard game.It was unblvable dat Sland wil cum out wit a positiv result,Chelsea playi dem would nt b an easy go 4 dem bt all i wud sugest is dat Chelsea take heed so as not 2 b stuned dfeatd by Sland.Dey must get prepare 4 any surprise & also use deir goal oportunities 2 b victorious.To me i see Chelsea as winners of d game,though Sland would proof 2 b tough bt Chelsea wil dfeat dem.
Richard Adedapo.
April 17, 2014 at 8:33 pm
Mou should tell the players to play their game and be defensively conscious. Matic should be at his best, the attacking midfielders should not let the visitors defence be at rest. Prediction. 2.0 Up blues 4life.
Boniface akpelu .o.
April 17, 2014 at 9:07 pm
Now, the question is who likes relegation? Although d. Question luks simple but so critical chelsea ve nt lost @ home therefore sunderlnd cn’t break d record,seeing blues on saturday pumping dem wt goals, blues 4 life
Sodiq adebayo
April 17, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Mou shud tel im boi 2 bcareful any smal mistake 4 chelsea is a los cos sunderland are dangerous
Admire tarasana
April 17, 2014 at 10:53 pm
Ts cruch time now sunderland wil sacrifice anything to win so fo chelsea play bad but win cos @ this stage of e league what matters nw s goals than performance,,,,,up Jose
Remz
April 17, 2014 at 11:38 pm
I juz pray Chelsea g8 the whole 3pts…abeg!
Godwin charles
April 18, 2014 at 12:19 am
I think morinho is makin a huge mistake by not playin ashley cole against sunderland ahead of champions league against athletico
chidi alimezia
April 18, 2014 at 12:40 am
I tnk remi nd matic shud partner, y schurle take 11, salah 7 nd lampard 10, ba is gud but eto is prefareble cos he has home records up blues
Tom
April 18, 2014 at 1:26 am
There’s no sign of intelligent life anywhere here on a chelsea-based website…
Adejoh ogbadu
April 18, 2014 at 3:13 am
What happen 2 mikel??
Pharoah
April 18, 2014 at 3:36 am
I THINK ASHLEY COLE SHOULD START OWING TO THE FACT THAT IVANOVICH IS SUSPENDED FOR TUESDAY UCL, THAT WOULD GIVE ASHLEY MATCH FITNESS. CESAR SHOULD BE RESTED.
Comrade Dikeocha Stephen
April 18, 2014 at 4:49 am
Chelsea Fc under Jose Mourinho is a different games entirely. Unbeaten at home in Epl, have a formidable record, with great managerial ability and quality players. I think there are the best club in the europe and deserve to lift the champions league victory and the barclays premier league based on their potentials.
brightman
April 18, 2014 at 6:54 am
by the grace of God we will win this match.Up blues!!!!
real timo
April 18, 2014 at 7:30 am
Just play all key players an not rest them 4 champions league, cz if we gonna win all 4 games left we will be the champions of EPL. Every game we must take it seriously. All da best da bluz.
real timo
April 18, 2014 at 7:31 am
Plz Mou, we have 2 play all key players an not rest them 4 champions league, cz if we gonna win all 4 games left we will be the champions of EPL. Every game we must take it seriously. All da best da bluz.
Oladipupo Noah
April 18, 2014 at 7:37 am
Dat is gud
Remmy
April 18, 2014 at 8:46 am
Blue wil win no mattet wat
andybest bright
April 18, 2014 at 11:04 am
Dats a wonderful line-up against sunderland nd i think jose should take every game very serious cos sunderland ar blacks cat capable of suprising big team. Coupled to d fact dat chelsea do loose against small teams.
Tim
April 18, 2014 at 11:08 am
I think ashley Cole should start and Salah must also try to score when he’s in a good position to shoot and not to pass a striker
Abubakar yusuf
April 18, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Mou pls we prefer mikel dan matic , u cant be benching a player nd u are saying is nt per4ming. Victory is ours, blue 4 life.
Momo
April 18, 2014 at 10:57 pm
We prefer Matic..How many assists does Mikel have(in this season or any season) compared to the number of assists Matic has. If Mikel stays at Chelsea next season i dont want to see him playing DM, id like to see him play in a similar role to yaya toure
Abubakar yusuf
April 18, 2014 at 12:06 pm
Blue must win.
MOSES OCHOCHE
April 18, 2014 at 8:36 pm
OH GOD FAVOUR CHELSEA 2MOROW & TUESDAY
Momo
April 18, 2014 at 10:58 pm
I doubt this is the line up that plays, either way good luck blues!